Washing machines



April 26, 1960 cs. c. FIELDS 2,933,913

WASHING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 21, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,5G'amgye (Z .Fi'elds 3 April 26, 1960 Original Filed Feb. 21, 1955 G. C.FIELDS WASHING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 12? J22 10011 J16" f 3 J24 3114 I 153 H 1 5.9 l 5% 8 158 I J32 J31 133 130 1 62372122907? J 5607326. E'eZ ds April 26, 1960 Original Filed Feb. 21, 1955 G. C. FIELDSWASHING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 26, 1960 c, FlELDs 2,933,913

WASHING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 21, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

fiv/en for: 6607 90 (I nelds April 26, 1960 c, FIELDS 2,933,913

WASHING MACI- IINES Original Filed Feb. 21, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5WASHING MACHINES ()riginal application February 21, 1955, Serial No.489,323. Divided and this application June 3, 1959, Serial No. 818,499

lflcCiainis or. 63-23 This application isa division of applicationserial No. 489,323, filed February 21, 1955; now abandoned.

This invention relates to clothes washing machines of the type having aclothes tub, supported on avertical, tubular shaft, and an agitatorpositioned within the tub and supported on the upper end of a driveshaft rotatable within the tubular shaft; the two shafts being driven bya single motor, with clutch means interposed between the motor and atleast one'o-f the shafts.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel clutchand brake assembly, which is constructed and arranged so as to insureagainst overloading the motor and which readily permitsacceleration ofthetub, containing clothes and washing liquid, up to a desired speed ofrotation for performing a centrifugal extraction operation.

Another object is to provide anovel clutch construction for controllingthe rotation of the tub of the machine, wherein the clutch is arrangedso thatits torque load, at all times, remains withinthe range of thetorque output of the motor.

A further object is to provide a novel clutch construction adapted forclothes washing machines of the character above indicated, wherein thetorque of the clutch remains constant irrespective of the loadimposed-thereon, or overloading of the machine, or variations inweatherconditions.

Still another object is to provide a novel clutch and brake assembly forclothes washingmachinespf the character indicated, wherein operation ofthe agitator tends to elfect rotation of the tub, and wherein the energyof the tub, while tending to rotate, is utilized, while the brake isapplied, to cause the brake to maintain. the clutch for driving the tubshaft totally disengaged.

For these purposes the invention advantageously provides novel drivemeans for such a machine, including a clutch drum rotating with theagitator drive shaft, a clutch band within said drum, clutch bandoperating means carried on a support rotatable with the tubular tubshaft, and an actuating member adapted incident to rotative movement,imparted to the tub during normal washing operation of the agitator, toactuate the clutch band operating means for disengaging the band fromthe drum, thereby precluding rotation of the tubular shaft and drum bysaid clutch.

Other objects and advantages of. this invention will be apparent fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a clothes washing machineembodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical, fragmentary sectional view throughthe axis of the machine, showing the novel brake and clutch constructionembodying the present invention.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, looking down on the brake unit,taken substantially as indicated at line 33 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the brake assembly,taken substantially as indicated at line 44 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, looking down on the clutchassembly, taken substantially as indicated at line 55 on Figure 2 andshowing the clutch in engaged condition, as for an extracting operation.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are plan views of three elements of the clutch.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the clutch in adifferent, engaged condition. a

Figure 10 is further a view similar to Figure 5, showing the clutchpartsin disengaged position, as during a washing operation.

Referring to Figure 1: the machine comprises, within an 'outer sheetmetal cabinet 10, 21 stationary tub or receptacle 15, and, in the upperportion thereof, a to.- tatable tub 30, adapted to contain clothes tovbewashed and centrifuged. This rotatable tub 30 has a bottom 38, arelatively large central portion of which is shown as forming adepressed portion or sump 39.

The r'otatabletub 30 is, secured to a flange 45 of a mounting member 46suporting this tub. The mounting member 46 is rigidly attached to anupright, tubular drive shaft 48 (Figure 2), which extends downwardlythrough a tubular member 58, positioned within a sleeve 27 (Figure 1').Sleeve 27 has a lower end secured to the bottom ofstationary tub 15' andmember 58 terminates there: below, on the top surface of a stationary,horizontal plate 84. The tubular drive shaft extends through this plateand is connected to the rotatable tub 30, in order to impart rotation tothe same for centrifugal extraction of the washing fluid from theclothes in the tub, as hereinafter described. Tubular members 50 and 27serve to preclude water from coming, into contact with. the drivingmechanism.

Extending upwardly and substantially concentric within the tubular driveshaft. 48 is an agitator drive shaft 60 (Figure 2), the upper end ofwhich is attached to a suitable crank head; not shown, having a portionextending at a slight angle to the axis ofthis shaft. The crankhead-isoperably connected to an agitator and mounting member structure72 (Figure 1). In order to seal the driving mechanism from contact bywashing fluid within rotatable tub 30, an annular, flexible sealingmember '76 is employed.

Stationary plate 84 is suitably secured to structural means 78 by pins.8ti'seated' in rubber grommets 82 (Figure 2) Extending througha centralopening in plate '84, ancl secu 'ed thereto, is the lower extremity oftubular member 50, and mounted in said lower extremity of member 50 is abearing 86 which surrounds and guides the tubular drive shaft 48,

Extending laterally from one edge of stationary plate 84, is a lug 96,as seen in Figure 3, to the underside of which is welded a downwardlyextending pivot pin 98. Mounted on said pivot pin 98 is one end of abrake band assembly, indicated generally at 100, and the opposite end ofsaid brake band assembly is attached to an upstanding pin 102, mountedon a top horizontal leg of a brake actuating memben104, which in turn ispivotally mounted on said' pin 98. The brake band is normally tensionedby a coil" spring 106, connected at one end to the top horizontal leg ofthe brake actuator 104, the other end being suitably connectedto thecabinet structure. Thus it will be seen that plate 84 provides astationary brake element, Struck out-'of'said element, approximatelydiametrically opposite the aforementioned lug 96, is a depending lug108, which straddles the upper edge of the brake band ltlthfor,maintaining said band in proper operating position. The brake bandassembly comprises a metal band 190a,,the inner surface of which hasfriction "lining segments 100b'rigidly attached thereto. These segmentssurround a brake drum 110 (Figures 2 and 4), which are concentricallymounted on tubular shaft 48, a web portion of this drum being seated ona flange 112 of a tub driving sleeve member 114, secured to said shaft(Figure 2). Mounted on the inner surface of the web of the brake drum isa plate 116, as seen in Figure 4, and said plate and flange 112,together with the web of the brake drum are interconnected by bolts 117;the web of the brake drum being provided with'arcuate slots 118, in suchregistration with said bolts as to permit a limited amount of rotativemovement of the brake drum with respect to plate 116 and the tub drivingmembers.

As may further be seen in Figure 4, plate 116 has a cut-away portion120. Formed at one end of this cutaway portion is an upwardly extendinglug or abutment 121, positioned so as to encounter a rubber bumper 122which is rigidly attached to the upper portion of the web of the brakedrum 110. The purpose of abutment 121 and bumper 122 is to provide aresilient stop, limiting any relative rotary movement of the tub drivingmember 114 with respect to the brake drum'110, so as to hold the tubagainst rotation, which movement normally occurs when the tub tends torotate incident to the performance of the washing action therein, duringthe time of application of the brake band pressure to the brake drum;such relative movement being accommodated by the arcuate slots 118 inthe brake drum as above described.

Bolted to the underside of the brake drum 110 is a depending clutchactuating member 124 (Figures 1 and 2). The clutch assembly ispositioned below the brake mechanism and comprises an upwardly opencup-shaped drum 126, having the web portion thereof bolted to a drivinghub 128, which hub is secured to the lower portion of the agitator driveshaft 60 (Figure 2) and also surrounds the upper portion of a stub shaft130, disposed below and aligned with the agitator drive shaft 60 andflexibly coupled thereto by rubber sleeve 132 press-fitted between metalsleeves 131, 133 rigidly secured to said shafts, the latter beingpress-fitted into an opening in the lower end of the driving member 128.The flexible coupling sleeve 132 permits a limited amount of gyration ofthe upper part of the machine, including the tub and associated parts,without impairment of the driving connection to the stub shaft 130. Thestub shaft is journalled in a bearing 140, which is mounted on the topof the web portion of an inverted channel member 141 (Figures 1, 2)which member is the main support for the entire mechanism within thecabinet 10. Below said channel, the lower end of the stub shaft hasrigidly mounted thereon a pulley 146 (Figure 1), around which is traineda drive belt 147, which belt extends around a pulley 150, connected tothe drive shaft of the motor 151.

It will be apparent that when the motor is energized, the belt 147drives the pulley 146, stub shaft 130, driving hub 128 and agitatorshaft 60.

The tub driving member 114 (Figure 2) is rigidly secured to the tubularshaft 48 by screws 153. Pressfitted in the lower end of the tubularshaft 48 is a bearing 154, which surrounds and guides the agitator driveshaft 60.

Mounted within the clutch drum 126 as shown in Figure 2 and particularlyin'Figure 5 is ametal band 156, to the outer surface of which aresecured'segments of friction lining material 157, adapted to engage theinner peripheral wall of the cup-shaped drum 126 under certainconditions of operation of the machine.

The lower end of the tub driving member 114 (Figure 2) is formed with apair of laterally extending arms 158 (Figures 2, 5), to which aresecured by bolts 159, lugs 166 of a clutch support plate 160 (Figure 6).The clutch support plate 160 is provided with a central aperture forseating over the lower end of the tubular shaft 48, and is provided withan internal key 161, for seating in a keyway 162, formed in the lowerend of the tubular shaft 48 for indexing connection therewith. Thesupport plate is driven with said tubular shaft 48, through its boltedconnection to the arms 158 of the tub driving member 114. The clutchsupport plate 160 is further formed with radially extending arms 164 and165. Also, one of the lugs 166 is formed with an abutment or stop member168, as will hereinafter be described. Extending upwardly from plate160, adjacent arm 164 thereof, is still another lug 169, which functionsas a stop member as will hereinafter be described.

Loosely mounted on the lower end of tub driving member 114, and carriedon support plate 168 are two clutch band actuating members 170 and 172(Figures 7 and 8). Member 170 is provided with a pair of radiallyextending arms 170a and 170b, and member 172 is likewise provided with apair of radially extending arms 172a and 172b. Arm 170a is provided withan aperture 1700 at its outer end, and the outer end of the arm 17% isprovided with an upstanding apertured lug 170d. The outer end of arm17211 of member 172 is provided with a pair of apertures 172c and 172d,and the outer end of arm 172b is provided with an upstanding aperturedlug 172e. The outer ends of metal clutch band 156, are fittedrespectively over the ends of arm 170a on member 170, and of arm 172a onmember 172, and are anchored in position by pins 173 in apertures 170sand 172c. Arm 172a of clutch member 172 is interconnected with arm 164of clutch support plate 160 by a coil spring 175, with one end of saidspring being seated over the hooked portion of the outer end of the arm164, and the other end being booked through aperture 172d of member 172.Another coil spring 176 interconnects upstanding apertured lugs 170d and172e of members 170 and 172. Clutch actuating arm 124, depending fromthe brake drum, has its lower end extending within the clutch assemblybetween arms 170a, 17% of member 170, and so as not to interfere withlugs 166, one of which is also disposed between said arms.

In operation both the brake and the clutch tend to assume engagedpositions, due to forces applied respectively by brake spring 106(Figure 3) and clutch spring 176 (Figure 5). The agitator driving shaft60 rotates counterclockwise. Such rotation of shaft 60 causes awell-known wobbling action of agitator 72 (Figure 1) relative to tub 30when tub 30 is held stationary by disengagement of the clutch andengagement of the brake. The same rotation of same shaft causescoincident rotation of tub 30 and agitator 72 when the clutch is engagedand the brake disengaged.

When the machine initially commences operation shaft 60 (Figure 2)begins to rotate. Action is then taken to allow engagement of the brakeand thereby to cause disengagement of the clutch, in order to hold tub30 against rotation and thus to cause wobbling of agitator 72.

At or about this time the brake (Figure 3) is allowed to become engaged,by suitable release of member 104, which until then had been caused bycontrol equipment (shown only in general in the lower part of Figure 1)to counteract the pull of brake spring 106 (Figure 3). The clutch(Figure 5) had been engaged in a previous spinning action; it nowbecomes disengaged (Figure 10), as follows. 7

Rotation of shaft 60 tends to move agitator 72, thereby agitating waterand fabrics in tub 30, which agitation in turn tends to rotate the tub.Actually,,as the brake is being applied, the tub is permitted to moverotatively by a small amount, in response to said action of water andfabrics. Lost motion is for this purpose provided in the web portion ofthe brake drum by slots 118 and bolts 117 (Figure 4). This limitedrotation leads to the engagement of abutment lug 121 on'brake plate 116with rubber bumper 122 on drum 110. In other words, deceleration of thecounterclockwise rotation of brake drum 110, by band 100, leads ineffect to clockwise rotation of 7 said drum relative to shaft 60 and toparts rotating therewith, limited by stop unit 121, 122.

As the brake drum moves through such limited range relative to shaft 60,clutch actuator member 124, depending from said brake drum (Figures 4and 5), also moves clockwise relative to shaft 60, so that it nowengages andv moves clutch member 170 in clockwise direction, therebyestablishing the position of Figure 10, against the resilient resistanceof spring 176. By virtue of this movement of clutch member 176, theclutch band friction lining 157 is now disengaged from the clutch drum126. The clutch then remains disengaged, as seen in Figure 10,throughout the washing and rinsing operations of the machine.

In order to terminate thoseoperations and to commence an extractionoperation, brake actuator 104 is reinserted to release brake band 100(Figure 4) from engagement with brake drum 11d. Clutch member 172(Figure is substantially stationary at this time, due to the restraintimposed on this member 172 by spring 175 holding the member against lug169 and thus against stationary tubular shaft 43. However, clutch member170, which at this moment is in engagement with clutch actu ating arm 124, moves said clutch actuating arm in counterclockwise direction assoon as the release of the brake allows this. Simultaneously, thismovement of clutch member 170 causes engagement of the friction liningof the clutch band with clutch drum 126; this occurs by way of snapaction, which action also arrests further movement of clutch member 170.Momentum has, however, been imparted'to arm 124, and this arm now movesout of engagement with clutch member 170 and again attains a positionsubstantially as seen in Figures 5 and 4. As the clutch now is inengagement, rotation is now imparted to driving member 114 for rotatingtub 30 through tubular shaft 48.

When the machine is in spinning condition, the various elements of theclutch assume, as mentioned, the relationship shown in Figure 5 of thedrawings. At such time the friction lining 157 of the clutch band 156 isin engagement with the clutch drum 126, under the influence of theaction of coil spring 176 which by means of arms 170b, 172b, spreads theband-engaging arms 179a, 172a.

The other coil spring 175 holds arm 172a of clutch memher 172resiliently against lug 169 of supporting plate 160, thus exerting apredetermined torque load on clutch memher 172 so as to limit the torqueoutput of the clutch.

While the clutch is about to assume its load and the tub is beingaccelerated up to its full speed, clutch members 170,172 movecounterclockwise relative to member 160, 164, under the control of thetorque limiting spring 175; clutch member 170 then engages abutmentlug'168 of clutch support plate 160; and the parts thus attain theposition seen in Figure 9.

When the tub has attained its normal high speed of rotation, that is,substantially the same speed as clutch drum 126, clutch members 170 and172 again assume a position substantially as seen in Figure 5, withclutch member 172 abutting against stationary lug 16% Any time that theload imposed on the clutch is increased above the normal torque load,theclutch members 170 and 172 tend to accommodate the excess load (whichmay be occasioned by an out-of-balance load or overload condition in thetub) and at such times clutch members 170 and 172 temporarily assumepositions, under the control of the spring 175, intermediate thepositions of Figures' Sand 9, such as to limit the torque output of theclutch, thereby precluding excessive torque load on the motor.

The time required for the machine to pass from the condition of Figure10 through one like that of Figure 9 and. into that of Figure Sdependson a number of variable, such as the initially mentioned weatherconditions, as will be. understood, one consideration of the, mode, ofoperation which has been described.

To summarize: the clutch forming part of the new deinvention utilizes areaction, set up as a result of a washing action, which action tends torotate the tub, said reaction being used for effecting disengagement ofthe clutch, by limited movement of a portion of the brake. structure.Incident to this action and reaction the force of the brake spring,applied mainly to restrain the tub from rotation during the period ofwashing, is additionally used to disengage the clutch. Automatic,efiicient and reliable resetting of clutch and brake actuators is alsoachieved, with the mere use of inexpensive and relatively simple linkagefor the utilization of inertial forces and related actions.

While only a single embodiment of the invention hasbeen described, itshould be understood that the details thereof are not to be construed aslimitative of the invention, except insofar as is consistent with thescope of the followingclaims.

Iclairn:

'1. In a' clothes washing machine having a clothes tub .mounted on anupright, rotatable tubular shaft, an agitator positioned within the tuband mounted on an upright drive shaft positioned within the tubularshaft, means for driving the drive shaft, and an electric motor operablyconnected to said driving means; a tub driving member carried on androtatable with the tubular shaft, a clutch comprising a drum connectedfor rotation with said drive shaft, a clutch band within the drum,clutch band operating means carried on the tub driving member, anactuator positioned to control the clutch operating means incident torotative movement imparted to the tub during normal washing operation ofthe agitator, for actuating the clutch band operating means fordisengaging the band from the drum and thereby precluding rotation ofthe tubular shaft and drum by said clutch, said clutch band operatingmeans comprising a pair of members having arms connected to the ends ofthe clutch band, spring means acting on the arms in a direction toeffect engagement of the band and drum, and a springconnected to one ofsaid members for limiting the torque output of the clutch, one of saidmembers having a portion positioned tocoact with said actuator wherebyrotative movement of the tub driving member causes one of said membersto engage the actuator and move it relatively to the other and therebycollapses the clutch band with respect to the drum.

2. In a clothes washing machine having an upright drive shaft, anupright, rotatable tubular shaft surrounding the drive shaft, a clothestub supported on the tubular shaft, an agitator positioned within thetub and supported 'on the upper end of the drive shaft, and means foroperatingthe drive shaft and actuating the agitator; a tub drivingmember carried on and rotatable with the tubular shaft, brake mechanismcomprising a drum operably associated with and rotatable with the tubdriving member, means providing a lost motion connection between thedrum and tub driving member, whereby said tub, tubular shaft and tubdriving member are permitted to rotate a limited amount, independent ofthe drum and while the brake is in operative position, incident torotative movement imparted to the tub and tubular shaft during normalwashing operation of the agitator a clutch comprising a drum connectedfor rotation with the drive shaft, a clutch band within the drum, clutchband operating means carried on the tub driving member, and an actuatingmem fber carried on the brake drum and having a portion exshaft, anagitator positioned within the tub and supported on the upper end of thedrive shaft, and means for operating the drive shaft and actuating theagitator; a tub driving member carried on and rotatable with the tubularshaft, brake mechanism comprising a drum operably associated with androtatable with the tub driving member, means providing a lost motionconnection between the drum and tub driving member, whereby said tub,tubular shaft and tub driving member are permitted to rotate a limitedamount, independent of the drum and while the brake is in operativeposition, incident to rotative movement imparted to the tub and tubularshaft during normal washing operation of the agitator, a clutchcomprising a drum connected for rotation with the drive shaft, a clutchband within the drum, clutch band operating means carried on the tubdriving member, an actuating member carried on the brake drum and havinga portion extending into coacting relation to said clutch band operatingmeans, whereby said limited permissible rotation of the tub drivingmember, while the brake is in operative position, causes the clutchoperating means to disengage the band from the clutch drum, and springmeans associated with the clutch band operating means for limiting thetorque output of the clutch.

4. In a clothes washing machine having a clothes tub mounted on anupright, rotatable tubular shaft, an agitator positioned within the tuband mounted on an upright drive shaft positioned within the tubularshaft, means for driving the drive shaft, and an electric motor operablyconnected to said driving means; a tubular driving member fixedlysecured on the tubular shaft and having a transverse flange at its upperend, a brake operably connected to said flange and normally engagedduring washing actuation of the agitator, said brake comprising a drumseated on said flange, lost motion driving connections between said drumand flange, premitting limited rotative movement of the tub, tubularshaft and driving member incident to normal washing operation of theagitator, a clutch operably connected to the drive shaft, and controlmeans carried by the brake drum and response to said limited rotation ofthe tub, tubular shaft and driving member for causing disengagement ofthe clutch.

5. In a clothes washing machine having a clothes tub mounted on anupright, rotatable tubular shaft, an agitator positioned within the tuband mounted on an upright drive shaft positioned within the tubularshaft, means for driving the drive shaft, and an electric motor operablyconnected to said driving means; a tubular driving member fixedlysecured on the tubular shaft and having a transverse flange at its upperand lower ends, a brake operably connected to said upper flange andnormally engaged during washing actuation of the agitator, said brakecomprising a drum seated on said upper flange, lost motion drivingconnections between said drum and flange, permitting limited rotativemovement of the tub, tubular shaft and driving member incident to normalwashing operation of the agitator, a clutch operably connected to thedrive shaft, said clutch comprising a drum fixedly secured to said driveshaft and clutch band operating means carried on the lower flange ofsaid driving member, and control means carried by the brake drum andresponsive to said limited rotation of the tub, tubular shaft anddriving member for actuating said clutch band operating means todisengage the clutch.

6. A clutch comprising a rotatable drum having a friction surface, aband having a friction lining for engaging said friction surface of thedrum, a pair of separate clutch members mounted coaxially of the drum,each member having two, spaced apart, laterally extending arms, one ofthe arms of each member being connected respectively to the ends of saidband, a spring interconnecting the other two arms of said two membersfor tensioning said members and causing the band to move said lininginto firm engagement with the friction surface of the drum, a thirdclutch member mounted coaxially with the drum and having a laterallyextending arm, and a spring interconnecting one of said arms connectedto the clutchband and said arm of the third clutch member fordetermining the torque output of the clutch.

-7. A clutch comprising a rotatable drum having a friction surface, aband having a friction lining for engaging said friction surface of thedrum, a pair of separate clutch members mounted coaxially of the drum,each member having two, spaced apart, laterally extending arms, one ofthe arms of each member being connected respectively to the ends of saidband, a spring interconnecting the other two arms of said two membersfor tensioning said members and causing the band to move said lininginto firm engagement with the friction surface of the drum, a thirdclutch member mounted coaxially with the drum and having a laterallyextending arm, a driven member mounted coaxially with the drum andconnected to said third clutch member, and a spring interconnecting oneof said arms connected to the clutch band and said arm of the thirdclutch member for determining the torque output of the clutch.

8. A clutch comprising a rotatable drum having a friction surface, aband having a friction lining for engaging said friction surface of thedrum, a pair of separate clutch members mounted coaxially of the drum,each member having two, spaced apart, laterally extending arms, one ofthe arms of each member being connected respectively to the ends of saidband, a spring interconnecting the other two arms of said two membersfor tensioning said members and causing the band to move said lininginto firm engagement with the friction surface of the drum, a drivenmember mounted coaxially with the drum, a third clutch member rigidlyconnected to said driven member and having a laterally extending arm, aspring interconnecting said arm of the third clutch member and one ofthe arms of one of said other clutch members which is connected to saidband, and cooperating abutment features on the third and one of theother clutch members connected to said last mentioned spring means forlimiting relative rotational movement of said members in the directionof urgence by said last mentioned spring means.

9. A clutch comprising a rotatable drum having a friction surface, aband having a friction lining for engaging said friction surface of thedrum, a pair of separate clutch members mounted coaxially of the drum,each member having two, spaced apart, laterally extending arms, one ofthe arms of each member being connected respectively to the ends of saidband, a spring interconnecting the other two arms of said two membersfor tensioning said members and causing the band to move said-lininginto firm engagement with the friction surface of the drum, a drivenmember mounted coaxially with the drum, a third clutch member rigidlyconnected to said driven member and having a laterally extending arm, aspring interconnecting said arm of the third clutch member and one ofthe arms of one of said other clutch members which is connected to saidband, and cooperating abutment features on said third and said otherclutch member which is not connected to the last mentioned spring means,engageable when the clutch is assuming its full torque output load.

10. A clutch comprising a rotatable drum having a fricton surface, aband having a friction lining for engaging said friction surface of thedrum, a pair of separate clutch members mounted coaxially of the drum,each member having two, spaced apart, laterally extending arms, one ofthe arms of each member being connected respectively to the ends of saidband, a spring interconnecting the other two arms of said two membersfor tensioning said members and causing the band to move said lininginto firm engagement with the friction surface of the drum, a drivenmember mounted coaxially with the drum, a third clutch member rigidlyconnected to said driven member and having a laterally extending arm, aspring interconnecting said arm of the third clutch member and one ofthe arms of one of said other clutch members which is connected to saidband, cooperating abutment features on the third and one of the otherclutch members connected to said last mentioned spring means forlimiting relative rotational movement of said members in the directionof urgence by said last men- 5 when the clutch is assuming its fulltorque output load.

No references cited.

